September 29, 2010

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowelobstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI's cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI's Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

September 16, 2010

For Ariana Iacono, the jewelry she wears in her pierced nose is more than a fashion statement. It’s a symbol of her faith, a belief that modifying and manipulating one’s flesh strengthens the bond between mind, body and soul. Her school, however, says the ring in her nose is nothing more than a violation of the dress code and grounds for suspension.

14-year-old Ariana and her mother, Nikki, are members of the Church of Body Modification. The church’s website, which is not for the squeamish, professes a belief in body modification as “one of the safest and most societal responsible ways to stay spiritually healthy and whole.” They encourage piercings, tattoos, scarification as well as reconstructive and cosmetic surgery as means of controlling and subverting the physical biological development of the body.

And yes, it’s a real church, incorporated as a non-profit entity and tax exempt.

But despite the apparent legitimacy of Ariana’s s faith, administrators at Clayton High School near Raleigh, N.C., have suspended her for refusing to remove her nose ring. Mom Nikki says in doing so, the school is violating it’s own dress code policy, which allows exemptions on religious grounds.

The ACLU has gotten involved and I believe it’s just a matter of time before Nikki’s suspension is dropped. If the school is going to make exceptions to the dress code to accommodate a person’s religious beliefs, then they must make those exceptions for every religion. Even one that seems so far afield from what might be considered mainstream.

But ultimately, I think schools need to get out of the business of telling students how to look and what to wear. Dress codes are often arbitrary and based on little more than the personal preferences of those who created them. Mohawks, blue streaks and nose piercings may not be your cup of tea, but they truly never hurt anyone.

September 10, 2010

Tiffany Livingston is a Playboy model who attempted to pull a Steven Slater on a Jet Blue flight the other day but it is not what you think. Got your attention didn’t I, keep reading to learn more about the incident and the brunette beauty.

Playboy model Tiffany Livingston was placed in federal custody after she attempted to pry open the door on her Jet Blue flight bound for Newark. However it is not what you think, according to TMZ Tiffany suffered an anxiety attack while on board the flight which caused her appear to look like she was trying to get the plane door open. The FBI questioned Livingston and determined she was not trying to open the door but to stabilize herself since she did not have her medication. No criminal charges will be filed against Tiffany.

So other than she has anxiety attacks on planes what do we know about Livingston, well this is what we have in terms of a biography on her. She is 21 years old and was featured in the debut edition of the Singapore version of Hef’s nudity magazine, you can see pictures of the knocked out here but be sure to come back because there is a video below. Other than the latest drama surrounding her there isn’t a whole heck of a lot we know about Tiffany, although she seems to have some sort of modeling career. If you know any info on Livingston be sure to let me know.

Tiffany Livingston is a Playboy model who has a passion for traveling but her passion turned into a nightmare for her and others on a recent Jet Blue flight. Thank goodness everyone is fine and it became clear that she was not trying to open the door mid flight. I tell you what I am sure it isn’t the attention she wanted but I bet this incident will do wonders for her career.

A new virus, called “Here You Have” is spreading in email inboxes around the world.

It has picked up its name from the subject of the infected email, which reads “Here you have”.

We didn’t receive it (and hope we won’t), but according to various blogs, the message includes the following text when opened (although you shouldn’t open it in the first place; you should delete it before doing that.

Don’t click on the link, if you have opened the message.

Reports say the virus is spreading very fast so, if you’ve opened the message and clicked the link, make sure your antivirus or anti-malware software is up to date or get a good one as fast as possible.

September 1, 2010

The men of the recent times are sure to have heard the name Shannon James. She is the one who lit up the cover page of playboy with her amazing posture. She is undoubtedly one among the sexiest women of the present. The girl is just 18 years of age and has already made her mark in the world of fashion by posing for the playboy magazine.She is in for trouble now, as it is said that Shannon hit a man with the baseball bat during match between the brewers and the reds. This has become huge issue and people wonder as to if a figure, as slender and tender as Shannon could do something like this. However, one has to wait and watch what the element of truth in this allegation is. It is worth mentioning in this regard that when she was named the playmate of the month, the students of Florida University felt she brought disrespect for the university.